Opportunity
SAM #FA8750-26-S-7004
AFRL Solicitation for Alternate Access Cyber Capability Prototypes (Exodus)
Buyer
AFRL RIK
Posted
July 14, 2026
Identifier
FA8750-26-S-7004
NAICS
541715
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Information & Spectrum Warfare Directorate in Rome, NY, is seeking innovative research and development for alternate access cyber capability prototypes under the 'Alternate Access for Cyber Applications: Exodus' Advanced Research Announcement. - Government Buyer: - Department of the Air Force - Air Force Materiel Command - Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Information & Spectrum Warfare Directorate, Rome Research Site - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named in the announcement - Products/Services Requested: - Development of offensive cyberspace operations (OCO) alternate access cyber capability prototypes - Focus on supporting Long Range Kill Chains (LRKC) and enabling access to adversary infrastructure beyond traditional cyber capabilities - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Effort is intended to ensure national superiority in the cyber domain - Only white papers accepted as initial submissions; formal proposals by invitation - Multiple awards anticipated - Prototype projects may transition to follow-on production contracts or agreements if successfully completed - Instruments may include FAR-based procurement contracts or Other Transactions (OT) under relevant USC authorities - Estimated Contract Value: - Total estimated funding: approximately $999 million - Individual awards typically range from $10 million to $50 million, with potential awards up to $99.99 million - Period of Performance: - Open and effective until the specified end date - Individual awards not normally exceeding sixty months
Description
NAICS CODE: 541715
FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information & Spectrum Warfare Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514
ARA ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement
ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA) TITLE: Alternate Access for Cyber Applications: Exodus
ARA NUMBER: FA8750-26-S-7004
PART I – OVERVIEW INFORMATION
This announcement is for an Open, two step ARA which is open and effective until 6:00PM EST on 30 June 2031. Only white papers will be accepted as initial submissions; formal proposals will be accepted by invitation only. While white papers will be considered if received prior to 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 30 SEP 2030, the following submission dates are suggested to best align with projected funding:
FY27 by 30 Sep 2026
FY28 by 30 Sep 2027
FY29 by 30 Sep 2028
FY30 by 30 Sep 2029
FY31 by 30 Dec 2030
Offerors should monitor the Contract Opportunities on the SAM website at https://SAM.gov in the event this announcement is amended.
CONCISE SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT: Seeking to develop offensive cyberspace operations (OCO) alternate access cyber capability prototypes in support of Long Range Kill Chains (LRKC) that could transition into Department of War (DoW) operational organizations to facilitate gaining adversary infrastructure access that would otherwise not be possible through traditional cyber capabilities ensuring our Nation’s superiority in the Cyber Domain.
ARA ESTIMATED FUNDING: Total funding for this ARA is approximately $999M. Individual awards will not normally exceed sixty (60) months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $10M to $50M. There is also the potential to make awards up to $99.99M.
ANTICIPATED INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: Multiple Awards are anticipated. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more Procurement Contracts/Other Transactions, for all, some, or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding fluctuations. There is no limit on the number of OTs that may be awarded to an individual offeror.
TYPE OF INSTRUMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED: FAR based procurement contracts or other transactions (OT) under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022 and 10 USC 4023 (previously 10 USC 4002, 2371, 10 USC 4003, 2371b and 4004, 2373)
In the event that an Other Transaction for Prototype agreement is awarded as a result of this competitive ARA, and the prototype project is successfully completed, there is the potential for a prototype project to transition to award of a follow-on production contract or transaction. The Other Transaction for Prototype agreement itself will also contain a similar notice of a potential follow-on production contract or agreement.
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: All white paper submissions and any questions of a technical nature shall be directed to the cognizant Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) as specified below (unless otherwise specified in the technical area):
ARA PROGRAM MANAGER:
Thomas Parisi
AFRL/RFGD
525 Brooks Rd
Rome, NY 13441-4505
Telephone: (315) 315-832-4041
Email: afrl.rf.hellfire@us.af.mil
Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant contracting officer, as specified below (email requests are preferred):
Amber Buckley
Email: Amber.Buckley@us.af.mil
Emails must reference the solicitation ARA number and title of the acquisition.
Pre-Proposal Communication between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged. Technical and contracting questions can be resolved in writing or through open discussions. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.
Offerors are cautioned that evaluation ratings may be lowered and/or proposal rejected if proposal preparation (Proposal format, content, etc.) and/or submittal instructions are not followed.
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FULL ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS.